Universal joint.



T. P. TIMBY.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

APPLICATION TILED JAN.1'1, 1910. 954,228. Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

THEODORE F. TIMBY, OF ALMA, MICHIGAN.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application filed January 17, 1910. Serial No. 538,397.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE F. TIMBY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Alma, Gratiot county, in the State ofMichigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in UniversalJoints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to separable universal joints of the ball andsocket type for the transmission of power in motor vehicles and. boats,machinery of all kinds, and hand tools.

The present invention consists in certain novel combinations of parts,including a novel concavo-convex ribbed member, and in an improveduniversal-joint coupling or universal joint embodying such combinationsor any of them, as hereinafter particularly descrlbedand claimed.

The leading objects of this invention are to obviate providing the ballmember with crossed grooves, to locate an anti-friction ball bearing orthe like within a recessed ball member, and at the same time toconstruct a strong and simple universal joint, the members of which canbe readily taken apart so as to afford access to every portion thereofwith reference to keeping the rubbing surfaces clean and as frictionlessas is practicable.

d Other objects will be set forth in the general description whichfollows.

A sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as partthereof.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and face views of theconcavo-convex ribbed member of the improved universal joint; Figs. 3and 4 are respectively side and face views of its fork member; Figs. 5and 6 are respectively side and face views of the ball member; Fig. 7 isa side view of a universal-joint coupling embodying all said members;and Fig. 8 represents a longitudinal section through all in a planesubstantially at right angles to that of Fig. 7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in all the figures.

The improved universal joint includes a ball member, a, in the form ofan oblate sphere, constructed with a circumferential groove in one lanecoincident with its axis of rotation; 21 ork member, 6, having a concavegrooved face; and an interposed concavo-convex member, a, substantiallyhemispherical in shape, constructed with internal and external ribs, 1and 2, fitted respectively to the groove, 1', of'said ball member andthe groove, 2, of said fork member. Said ball member a and fork memberI) are carried respectively by the adjoining or inner ends of a pair ofshafts or spindles, a and b, which are mounted respectively in the twoparts, d and e, of an articulated frame. This frame includes interactingarms, 3 and 4, in the form of circular arcs, surrounding the ball andsocket and concentric therewith, and a pair of pivots, 5 and 6, radialto the center of said ball and socket. It also includes suitable bearingportions, 7 and 8, for the s indles a and Z) respectively, and the obate surface of the ball member a is recessed as shown in Fig. 8 so as toadmit the inner end of said bearing portion 7 into the ball beyond itscenter, where the parts are respectiv ely constructed ,with the opposingseats of a ball bearing, f, which is thus protected against obstructionby dust in the most effective manner, and is otherwise effectivelyarranged. Another ball bearing, 9, is conveniently formed at the outerend of said bearing portion 7 of the frame d@ between the outer end ofsaid bearin portion? and a collar, 71., splined on sai spindle a of theball member. The two ball bearings are tightened to the desired extentby a not or nuts, 2', on a. threaded portion 9 of said spindle a.

The frame (l-e may obviously have any desired shape suitable to itsfunctionsabove stated, and other like modifications will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described said improvement, I claim as my invention, anddesire to patent under this specification:

1. The combination, in a universal joint, of a ball member constructedwith a circumferential groove in one plane coincident with its axis ofrotation, a fork member having a concave grooved face, and an interposedconcavo-convex member constructed with an internal rib fitted to'theroove of the ball member and an externa rib arranged at right angles tosaid internal rib and fitted to the groove of said fork member.

2. The combination, in a universal joint, of a ball member in the formof an oblate sphere having its spherical surface provided with acircumferential groove in one plane coincident with its axis ofrotation, a fork member having a concave grooved face, and

an interposed concavo-convex member, substantially hemispherical inshape, constructed With an internal rib fitted to the groove of the ballmember and an external rib arranged at right angles to said internal,rib and fitted to the groove of said fork member. 7

3. The combination, in a universal joint, of a ball member constructedwith a circumferential groove in one plane coincident with its axis ofrotation, a fork member having aconcave grooved face, an inter posedconcavo-convex member constructed with an internal rib fitted to thegro'ove'of the ball member and an external rib ar ranged at right anglesto said internal rib and fitted to the groove of said fork member, andan articulated frame in which said ball member and said fork member aremounted to rotate; said ball member and said fork member being carriedat the ad.- joining ends of a pair of spindles, and said frame beingconstructed with bearings for said spindles respectively.

4. The combination, in a universal joint,

of a ball member in the form of an oblate sphere having its oblatesurface recessed and its spherical surface provided Wlth acircumferential groove in one plane coincident With its axis ofrotation, a fork memher having a concave grooved face, an interposedconcavo-convex member constructed W1th an mternal I'll) fitted to thegroove of said ball member and an external rib arranged at right anglesto said internal rib frame being constructed With bearings for saidspindles respectively, including a ball bearing Within the recess ofsaid ball member, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

THEODORE F. TIMBY.

Witnesses I JAs. L. EWIN, WM. IVES LAMB.

